Samantha Zellman - Innovation Lead, Bay Area

SamanthaZ@upstartlab.org - 650.264.7323

At heart, Samantha is an organizer, facilitator, and coach who has a passion for Jewish life and a love of supporting others in achieving their vision for change. She was a fellow with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee in the Republic of Georgia, managing job training youth community service programs. She also facilitated Jewish learning opportunities at 92nd Street Y and, at Repair the World, co-designed a month-long experiential Jewish learning program.

Samantha worked on President Barack Obama’s campaigns in 2008 as a field organizer in Virginia and in 2012 as the first ever State Training Director for New Hampshire. During that time, she developed and facilitated train-the-trainer programs for more than 1200 campaign staffers, fellows, and volunteers.

Prior to UpStart, Samantha worked at a boutique leadership and organizational development consulting firm and entrepreneurial nonprofit organizations where she led organizational design, marketing, and community engagement efforts.

Samantha earned her Bachelors degree from Tufts University in International Relations, Middle Eastern Studies, and Conflict Resolution. She received her Masters degree in Organizational Change Management from The New School in New York. As a recent Oakland transplant from NYC, Samantha can often be found hiking in the redwoods with her fiance or cooking her latest discoveries from the farmer’s market.